The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloaded over 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs, valued at $473 million, at Port Everglades, Florida on Monday as part of Operation Pacific Viper. The seizure included approximately 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana. This marks the largest drug offload in Coast Guard history.
Operation Pacific Viper is a joint effort between the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy that increases enforcement in the Eastern Pacific to prevent drugs and human smuggling from reaching U.S. shores. As part of this operation, the Coast Guard conducted 19 interdictions in international waters in both the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, stated: “The Coast Guard continues leading U.S. efforts to control, secure, and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches. The cutter HAMILTON’s record-breaking offload is the latest demonstration of the success of Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard’s aggressive operations to defeat drug smugglers at sea in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Central and South America. We are incredibly proud of our crews who are safeguarding our nation. HAMILTON’s success sends a strong signal to the cartels that we own the sea. We will defeat them and protect our communities from the death and devastation from the scourge of illegal drugs.”
Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, Coast Guard Southeast District Commander, commented: "The crew of Hamilton, who have been on the ship for over the last two months, personally interdicted over 47,000 pounds cocaine. These men and women put themselves in harm's way time and again to stop the bad guys, apprehend the smugglers and seize the drugs. This is grueling and dangerous work, and I am extremely proud of them.”
Operation Pacific Viper is part of a larger initiative directed by President Trump to combat foreign drug cartels operating in Latin America. The operation remains ongoing under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership.
